VSU is working to improve high school students' knowledge of U.S.history

Valdosta State University will be working with the Coastal
Plains Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) to implement the
South Georgia History Project (SGHP). The Department of Education
awarded an $806,715 grant to Coastal Plains RESA for the three-year
project, which will help to improve teaching and learning of
American history in South Georgia high schools.

The project will involve 45 high school American history teachers
divided into three cohorts of 15 each. The Southwest Georgia and
Okeefenokee RESAs are also affiliated with the project. The
teachers will participate in a series of graduate courses,
workshops and conferences over the three-year period.

"The focus of the SGHP is on developing the historical knowledge,
skills and dispositions of teachers," Walsh said. "The components
of the SGHP are structured to provide teachers with a real sense of
professionalism regarding the teaching of U.S. history."

According to Walsh, the most recent National Assessment of
Educational Progress showed that only 43 percent of high school
seniors had a basic understanding of U.S. history.

"Fewer than half the students could tell the Declaration of
Independence from the Constitution or name which part of the
government passes laws," Walsh said.

This program will help students be better prepared for
college-level work, and with the introduction of the State of
Georgia's End of the Course Tests (EOCT) the need for a strong U.S.
history curriculum in high school is becoming more evident.

"Students need to do more than memorize facts," Walsh said. "They
must understand people places and events in history."

The SGHP is just one of many ongoing collaborations between VSU and
the Coastal Plains RESA.

"The RESA and VSU collaboration is growing stronger and has reached
another plateau," Chambers said. "It is wonderful to have the
opportunity to work in such a capacity with VSU and the
professional educators who are part of VSU."